The Biggest Industries In The United States

Real estate, renting, leasing acts as the biggest contributor to the US economy.

Real estate is one of the largest industries in the United States.

The United States is a world economic powerhouse with the largest nominal GDP in the world, valued at 18.46 trillion dollars which translate to 22% of the world’s nominal GDP. The economy of the United States is divided into three broad categories including the service sector, the manufacturing sector, and the agricultural sector.

1. Real Estate, Renting, and Leasing

Real Estate, renting, and leasing constitutes the largest sector of the United States’ economy with the GDP value added of $1.898 trillion accounting for 13% of the national GDP. The sector contributes to the economy in two fronts; the first being through consumer spending through rent and payment of household utilities, and the other being through residential investment which encompasses the construction of new housing units, broker fees, and residential remodeling. Also known as the housing sector, the industry plays an integral role in the US economy and the industry’s impact was best displayed during the 2008 recession where a nationwide decline in home prices triggered America’s worst economic recession in the 21st century. The housing sector also plays a critical role in employment with over 1.9 million people working in the real estate, renting and leasing industry.

2. State And Local Government

The State and Local Government have a combined GDP value added of $1.336 trillion to become the second largest GDP contributor representing 9% of the total US GDP. Government spending is classified into two components government investment and government final consumption expenditure. Government investment is defined as the government spending used to finance projects with future or long-term benefits such as spending on research as well as spending on infrastructure. Government final consumption, on the other hand, is the government’s spending on items for direct consumption. State and local government spending are usually financed through taxation or domestic and international borrowing.

3. Finance and Insurance

The Finance and Insurance sector is another top GDP contributor in the United States with the industry having a GDP value added of $1.159 trillion which is equivalent to 8% of the total GDP. The Finance and Insurance industry is made up of four distinct sectors which include insurance carriers, credit intermediation and Federal Reserve banks, commodity contracts and securities, and trusts and funds and other financial vehicles. The growth of the finance and insurance industry is critical to the US economy as it helps in the facilitation of US exports. The industry is also estimated to directly employ over 5 million people in the United States which is equivalent to 4% of the nation’s total employment.

4. Health and Social Care

The Health and Social Care industry in the country has a GDP value added of $1.136 trillion and represents 8% of the national GDP. Healthcare, in particular, was a key component of the two sectors with America's spending on healthcare per capita being the largest in the world at $8,608. Increasing obesity and non-communicable diseases such as cancer saw Americans spending more on curative, rehabilitative, and preventative care.

5. Durable Manufacturing

Durable Manufacturing is classified as the manufacturing sector engaged in the production of durable products such as computers, automobiles, firearms, sports equipment, house appliances, and aircraft which are characterized by long durations between purchases and are usually rentable. The durable manufacturing industry in the United States has a GDP value added of $910 billion which represents 6% of the national GDP. The sector is highly volatile and is affected by local and international factors such as global oil prices as well as the performance of the US dollar on international money markets. The durable manufacturing industry plays a significant role in employment in the US economy with over 349,000 of Americans being either directly or indirectly employed in the industry.

6. Retail Trade

The retail trade industry in the United States has a GDP value added of $905 billion which is equivalent to 6% of the total GDP. The industry encompasses the retailing process which is the final stage in the distribution of commodities to the final consumer. The retail industry features fixed store retailers which are characterized by walk-in by customers who purchase merchandise for household or personal consumption. The retail industry is the largest employer in the United States economy with the sector being responsible for 10% of the total employment in the country. Data from the National Retail Federation shows that the industry accounts directly or indirectly for over 15 million jobs. The sector also features online retailers such as Amazon and eBay who make millions of dollars in sales each day.

7. Wholesale Trade

Wholesale Trade involves the bulk distribution of commodities from producers to retailers or bulk consumers such as institutions and other wholesalers. Wholesalers are characterized by not spending on advertising targeted to the general public, and they do not have their own premises. Similarly, they are not designed for walk-in customers. The Wholesale industry in the United States has a GDP value added of $845 billion which is equivalent to 6% of the total GDP. The industry is also a significant employer with over 5.7 million people or 4% of total employment in the US being employed in wholesale trade.

8. Nondurable Manufacturing

The non-durable manufacturing industry is involved in the production of nondurable commodities, which may be defined as all products with a lifespan of less than three years and include gasoline, electricity, and clothing among others. Non-durable manufacturing is an important economic pillar in the United States and has a GDP value added of $821 billion which translates to 6% of the national GDP. While the non-durable manufacturing sector is less valuable than durable manufacturing, it employs way more people than durable manufacturing accounting for 4.4 million jobs compared to 349,000 jobs from durable manufacturing.

9. Federal Government

The Federal Government comes in ninth position with a GDP value added of $658 billion which accounts for 5% of the total GDP. The Federal Government is a key employer in the economy and employs about 2.795 million Americans who are employed by the Federal Government. Healthcare, social security, and education take up the lion’s share of Federal Government investments accounting 25%, 24%, and 15% of the annual investments respectively.

10. Information

The Information industry encompasses companies and institutions which engage in the production, transmission, processing, storing, and selling of information which includes media companies, data processing companies, law firms, and telephone companies among others. The information industry is a key pillar of the US economy and has GDP value added of $646 billion which is equivalent to 4% of the total GDP. The sector is responsible for the employment of 2% of the total labor force in the United States totaling about 2.7 million jobs.

US National Debt And Impact On Economy

In 2016, the national debt amounted to an unprecedented $19 trillion which was equivalent to 106% of the national GDP. This increased debt is a point of concern with economists linking poor economic performance to the soaring national debt. The increase in debt ultimately leads to the government to divert funds meant for economic development to pay off the debts as well as the accrued interest.